Raising the Kiwi’s HF multiband vertical antenna

Saturday was a perfect day for doing some antenna work and other maintenance: sunny, not too warm, and with the predicted rain showers choosing to fall elsewhere. Just as well, as we had a lot of jobs to get through!

  • – Install the HF multiband vertical for the KiwiSDR: since we took delivery of the KiwiSDR a few weeks ago, it was running on an active loop antenna mounted in the clubhouse, pending the installation of the outdoor vertical. The performance wasn’t great, and the loop picked up a lot of “local QRM” from other equipment in the clubhouse. The antenna seems to be working well, and we’re in the process of evaluating any issues we observe. The Kiwi’s GPS antenna is not outdoors yet, so we can’t participate in TDoA multilateration yet, but we’ll get there!
  • – Install the ADS-B antenna: the Society was approached a few months ago by ADSB Support in Denmark to join its aircraft tracking network. With the new antenna and receiver installation, we’re now part of the network. The company is interested in working with other Amateur Radio clubs to extend its coverage.
  • – Reinstall the HF and VHF APRS IGate antennas: some time ago, Yves VK2AUJ noticed some degradation in the coverage of our 2m and 30m IGates; it turned out that an errant tree branch or two had brought down the antennas. Hopefully yesterday’s repairs have remedied that situation; we’re evaluating to coverage, but it looks like it’s hearing HF APRS stations in VKs 3, 4, and 5 and VHF stations as well.
  • – Maintenance of 40m wire dipole antenna: it was a bit off-resonance, so needed a bit or TLC.
  • – Install telephone at the Scout hall (requested by the Scouts); important in an emergency.
  • – Investigate Kiwi QRM issues: ongoing – most of the issues seem to have cleared up with the antenna, but we had identified QRM from the server rack’s UPS. Glen did a lot of work to sort out various issues.
  • – Make security cameras “Camzilla-proof”: our local goanna is a beautiful animal, but not entirely compatible with our video cameras! Since s/he is not going anywhere, we need to do some work to make the cameras more resilient. This one is ongoing…
  • – Internet router firmware upgrade: as well as the other server rack maintenance, Glen upgraded the router firmware. This provides better support for the increased internet demands from out KiwiSDR and ADS-B feeds.
  • – Clear any tree branches impeding cable runs: as noted with the 30m IGate antenna, above, trees can be a mixed blessing where antennas are concerned, so minimising unwanted interactions is important!
  • – Cable and equipment labelling: funny how over time cables and boxes accumulate, but often don’t get labelled, so the questions “what does this do?” and “where does this go?” frequently get asked. Thanks to Glen, this will happen much less often!
  • – General cleanup: something to do with the clubhouse getting cluttered with electronic junk and needing to be made more presentable. Who knew?! Since our clubhouse occasionally hosts non-Amateurs, the place needs to be kept presentable…

The team managed to get through nearly all of the work items, but a couple are still “in progress”. Refer to todo list for status.

Some photos of the day’s activity:

The team routing cables from the ADS-B receiver to the server room
ADS-B Support’s antenna is in the air!
Simon and Geoff checking the cabling on our other ADS-B receiver
Tim, Connie and others organising the cable run from the Kiwi’s HF vertical back to the shack

Thanks to everyone who assisted:

  • VK2AUJ Yves
  • VK2CON Connie
  • VK2DH Robert
  • VK2EAH Andy
  • VK2FWOO Glen
  • VK2JNA Dom
  • VK2MZZ Jeff
  • VK2SKY Richard
  • VK2THT Sean
  • VK2TIJ Tim (formerly VK2BT)
  • VK2YMI Brendan
  • VK2YU Simon

As the saying goes, “many hands make light work!”